A bear met a tragic end after climbing to the top of a utility pole in New Mexico, USA. Spotted alive by motorists, the animal remained suspended over the edge for several hours. It ultimately died from electrocution before emergency services could safely retrieve it.
A stunning discovery by the side of a road
The scene was filmed Monday near Gladstone, a small rural town about 270 kilometers east of Santa Fe. The power pole was located near Highway 56, a road running through northeastern New Mexico.
Shannon Mullens was traveling with her family between Red River and Oklahoma when she spotted a large mass at the top of the structure. Convinced they had misunderstood, the occupants of the vehicle turned around.
“We couldn’t believe our eyes, so we turned around to look again. At first, we thought the bear was dead. As we got closer, we realized it was still alive.”the driver explained.
The animal suspended nearly above the ground
The images show the bear perched on the horizontal crossbar of a pole approximately 35 feet (just over 10 meters) long. Its front paws wrap around the top of the structure while its hind paws dangle in mid-air. The animal appears exhausted. It moves very little, pants, and tries to maintain its balance in the immediate vicinity of the power lines. Motorists who witness the scene then contact emergency services. On the phone, one person simply reports: "I'm calling to report a bear on top of a utility pole." The 911 operator responds that New Mexico's wildlife protection services have already been notified.
A tranquilizer dart deemed too dangerous
Destroying the bear at that height could have caused it to fall immediately. Once unconscious, the animal would no longer have been able to grip the pole. It then risked crashing to the ground, and also injuring people positioned below the structure. Authorities therefore asked witnesses to keep their distance and wait for the animal to come down on its own. The bear's condition and the presence of power lines also made the use of a ladder or any aerial equipment particularly dangerous.
The bear was fatally electrocuted
The animal was ultimately unable to leave the top of the pole. It was fatally electrocuted before a safe rescue operation could be organized. Its death was confirmed by wildlife officials in New Mexico. The U.S. Department of the Interior also shared the video, which garnered hundreds of thousands of views and numerous reactions to the tragic outcome.
Why had the bear climbed that pole?
Experts believe that a frightened bear can mistake a utility pole for a tree. Startled by a vehicle, dogs, or the presence of humans, the animal instinctively seeks higher ground for protection. Once it reaches the top, it may find itself unable to descend, especially when cables, insulators, and crossbeams obstruct its path. A similar incident occurred in Arizona in 2021. On that occasion, the power was cut off, and the bear was rescued.
